If I had one thing to be critical about, it would be the angle of view, because from that angle you don't really see that much of a difference from a Tomcat, at least the everyday visitor wouldn't know the difference. Otherwise it's great!

Gorgeous painting The Artist! Unfortunately, the McDonnell Douglas Model 255 design is very similar to the Grumman Model G-303 design. I believe that most people would mistakenly believe the Model 255 to be the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. I wonder if the addition of a second Model 255 in the painting in which you can see more of a dorsal view might help to differentiate the Model 255 from the Grumman F-14 Tomcat?

Show two F-4's peeling off (a USN and USAF - the GREAT - but theiy're being replaced - and both of course McDonnell Douglas programs), you have the Model 225 here (a bid for USN VFX), and you can show climbing up into view the F-15 (which won the USAF F-X program). Would be very emotional. All important McDonnell Douglas bids. Two successes out of three - aint bad!

The comments about it looking like a Tomcat pleases me. I selected this angle because of that look. I guess I should explain the proposal that I'm making to the museum. They have a small collection of company models (Mark Nankivil has posted photos of them.) that are currently displayed with very little information. I'm proposing that each model be displayed with a painting illustrating both what the design would could have looked like had it gone into production and where it would have fit into our aviation history. Therefore, should the proposal be accepted, this painting (or a smaller reproduction) would be displayed with the model and the model would make it clear that it is not a Tomcat.

Shockonlip, your suggestion of a group portrait sounds like an interesting project and like it would be a lot of fun to do - and you may have even named it - but it falls outside of what I'm trying to do with this one. thanks though, I'll keep it in mind.

The comments about it looking like a Tomcat pleases me. I selected this angle because of that look. I guess I should explain the proposal that I'm making to the museum. They have a small collection of company models (Mark Nankivil has posted photos of them.) that are currently displayed with very little information. I'm proposing that each model be displayed with a painting illustrating both what the design would could have looked like had it gone into production and where it would have fit into our aviation history. Therefore, should the proposal be accepted, this painting (or a smaller reproduction) would be displayed with the model and the model would make it clear that it is not a Tomcat.

Shockonlip, your suggestion of a group portrait sounds like an interesting project and like it would be a lot of fun to do - and you may have even named it - but it falls outside of what I'm trying to do with this one. thanks though, I'll keep it in mind.

Thanks again,Mike

Might it be worthwhile having a Tomcat photo/model nearby (or even putting an F-14 in that excellent picture), also in VF-1 markings? That might really make people do a doubletake. It would make it clear that the 225 is not and F-14, but it would also intrigue people with how two different companies, working to the same specification, independently came up with designs that look fairly similar at first glance. They could then see the differences as well. Just an idea...

To answer Paul's question. The painting had been displayed in the Museum, but someone moved it and placed it in a place where it got water damaged. I've been redoing the painting with what I feel is a stronger background. I'll be posting the redone painting when I get it finished.

I have also done this painting showing the design from a different angle and in different markings. I present "Vandy One."

Acrylic on a canvas panel. This was done for, and will soon go into the collection of the Greater St Louis Air & Space Museum.

EDIT 06/22/2018: I've seen that Fightingirish found my posting on DeviantArt. I have sent him a PM thanking him for giving me the credit line, and I gave him permission to continue using it as his avatar image.